= 
248 On a new base containing Osmium, etc. — 
Art. XXIV.—Preliminary notice of a new base containing Osmi- 
um and the elements of Ammonia; by Wotcorr Gisss and F. 
A. GENTH. . 
AN investigation of the ammonia-cobalt bases, the results of 
which have appeared in this Journal, has led us to direct our at- 
tention to the production of similar compounds with other metals. 
We have in particular studied the action of the mixed oxyds of 
nitrogen, NOz, NOs, and NOs, upon ammoniacal solations, and 
have obtained results which will form the subject of a future 
communication. In the course of an extended study of the pla- 
tinum metals, for which we have enjoyed peculiar facilities, we 
have remarked that osmium forms with ammonia a well charac- 
e have however found that the substance in question 184 
true chlorid which yields a beautiful salt with bichlorid of ple 
tinum, and which by double decomposition with salts of silver 
enables us to form a well defined sulphate, nitrate, oxalate, &c. 
The best method of forming these salts however is precisely that 
which Fremy employed for the chlorid, and consists in adding & 
solution of osmite of potash to a cold solution of an ammonia 
salt, when the new salt, is immediately formed and crystallizes 
from the solution. 
The salts of the new base have a very beautiful orange ¥ ellow 
color. They are nearly insoluble in cold water; hot water dis 
solves them more readily, but the solutions are easily decom " 
with evolution of osmic acid. We are not as yet prepare 
pronounce with certainty upon the constitution of these 
the analyses being difficult and tedious. We may however Te 
mark that Fremy’s analysis of the chlorid appears to be corre® 
and that we attribute to it the rational formula 
2NH3.0s02, Cl, | 
according to which the base will be uniacid. The results of eo 
complete investigation will form the subject of another comm 
nication, Iridium and Rhodium form with ammonia and tho 
an hy of nitrogen bases analogous to Xanthocobalt, with 
study of which we are also occupied. 
_ * Annales de Chimie et de Physique, 3d series, vol. xii, p. 521. 
